B-29 SN: 44-69914 of the 39th BG noseart

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

A comrade of mine from the 39th BG sent me this photo of the 26th Photo Lab of the 330th BG. They developed and interpreted all of the film for the 330th. A very important role in regards to bomb assessment etc. History has forgotten these men as there is nothing else on the web, except what is on my website. I have all of their names.., just need to match them to the photo. Hopefully, posting the photo on my 330th.org website may drum up some interest.

In front of B-29-70-BW (Boeing) SN: 44-69914

Closeup of Noseart (love it., and love the font in "Bob"!)

Anyone know why some of the bombs are darker than others? Were those 'day' and 'night' missions?

Closeup of engine of engine "Lillian"

Maybe not too relevant, but thought this was a great shot of an unpolished, dirty, war-weary B-29!
Regards,

Smisek and the 330th!

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Pretty good noseart here..., some I have never seen before!

http://www.rusmed-forever.ru/forum/inde ... topic=2098

Edward Sheetmetalhands · **Joined:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:44 am **Posts:** 257

Excellent photos, 330th. Thanks for posting! I like the naming of the engines like Kee Bird and Fifi.

Ba-bump. I wonder if possibly the different colored markers could have been red to signify incendiary clusters. Just a guess. Or possibly they could have another meaning like mining missions.

Tim

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:19 pm

The colored bomb symbols could be incendiary raids. In some cases (I've no idea if the 314th Wing did it) the colored bombs meant the airplane was flying a lead position. Most of the mining campaign was assigned to the 313th Wing so I don't think they're related to mining.

She may be unpolished and a little dingy, but the airplane isn't too war-weary--it's only a few months old. I'd bet there were a lot of 58th and 73rd Wing crews that would have liked to trade in their mounts for her!

Neat photo!
Scott

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Second Air Force wrote:

.

...I'd bet there were a lot of 58th and 73rd Wing crews that would have liked to trade in their mounts for her!

Neat photo!
Scott

That happened quite a bit! I have heard of many stories of brand new 330th aircraft being flown to Guam from Stateside and they wound be confiscated upon landing and given to another more tenured group! The 330th guys were upset, but they could do nothing about it.

Jarink1 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:21 pm **Posts:** 117

Anyone else notice the 9th and 10th mission marker bombs (I'm assuming the colors) are black with red fins?

My first thought was that the full red bombs would signify it flew lead on the mission. After noticing those two markers, I'm not so sure.

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:17 am

Yep, that leads me to wonder if maybe? those mission markers mean a mixed load of explosives and incendiaries.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

The collective knowledge of WIX, never ceases to amaze me. :wink:

I have confirmed that this aircraft's 5th mission (Red Bomb) was on 25 May.., the firebombing mission over Tokyo. Also that their 36th and last mission (Red Bomb) was also an incendiary raid on Isesaki.

So this is evidence that the 9th and 10th missions were of mixed ordinance.

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Thu Sep 09, 2010 6:05 pm

Edward Sheetmetalhands wrote:

Ba-bump. I wonder if possibly the different colored markers could have been red to signify incendiary clusters. Just a guess. Or possibly they could have another meaning like mining missions.

Tim

I can't take credit for this one, Smis! Tim nailed it with his earlier post. Another little detail that adds to the history we're trying to preserve.

Scott

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 13, 2010 5:33 pm

love that b-29

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B-29 SN: 44-69914 of the 39th BG noseart

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